Bolthole Index

Noble County, Indiana

Building permits, zoning and septic in Albion Township, Indiana

Unincorporated Albion Township, Indiana requires building permits for new construction and additions through the Noble County Building Department.1 Noble County administers zoning on unincorporated township land; the incorporated Town of Albion has separate zoning jurisdiction.2 Septic systems inside Albion Township require county health department approval and a licensed installer for new installations or repairs.3

At a glance

Building permits
Required for new construction and additions on unincorporated township land1
Zoning
County UDO on unincorporated land; incorporated Albion is outside county planning jurisdiction2
Septic permits
Noble County Health Department; licensed installer required for new systems and repairs3
Manufactured homes
Singlewides need a variance outside a mobile-home park on unincorporated land4
Road access
Driveway permit required for a building application without an existing driveway5
Land divisions
County Plan Commission approval required for unincorporated land divisions and combinations6

Who to call

Building permits

Noble County Building Department

Building permits and inspections in the county's jurisdiction

260-636-2215

[email protected]

109 N York St, Albion, IN 46701

Floodplain permits

Noble County Building Department - Floodplain

Local review of improvements in the floodplain

Zoning

Noble County Plan Commission

Planning, zoning administration and zoning inquiries for unincorporated Noble County

260-636-7217

[email protected]

109 N York Street, Albion, IN 46701

Septic permits

Noble County Health Department - Septic and Wastewater

Septic permits, onsite sewage inspections and sewage-nuisance complaints

260-636-2191 ext. 2

[email protected]

Roads & driveways

Noble County Highway Department

County-road driveway permit inquiries for unincorporated Albion Township

(260) 636-2124

[email protected]

1118 E. Main Street, Albion, IN 46701

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Albion Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Albion Township have zoning, and who sets the rules?

Unincorporated Albion Township is subject to Noble County’s Unified Development Ordinance, administered by the Noble County Plan Commission.2 The incorporated Town of Albion maintains its own ordinance and is outside the county Plan Commission’s jurisdiction, so an Albion address alone should not decide which zoning office you approach.7 For a township parcel outside town jurisdiction, ask the county Plan Commission to identify the zoning district and confirm the proposed residential use, setbacks, lot coverage and site layout before preparing final plans.8 Land divisions and combinations also require Plan Commission approval; an unapproved nonconforming parcel cannot receive an improvement-location permit or building permit.6

Do you need a building permit in Albion Township, IN?

New construction and additions on unincorporated Albion Township land require a Noble County building permit before work begins; structural roof work, foundation repairs, and electrical, plumbing, gas, heating and cooling improvements are also listed as permit work.1 Noble County has adopted Indiana Division of Fire and Building Safety codes for construction in its jurisdiction.9 Contact the Noble County Building Department to confirm the permit scope, because county building applications cannot be filed online.10 The owner or contractor must request inspections when a project reaches a required inspection stage; the inspection schedule depends on the work being performed.11

How do septic permits work inside Albion Township?

The Noble County Health Department handles septic systems inside Albion Township, and a new installation or repair requires a permit and installation by a licensed installer.3 Septic applications must be made in the office, and the department lists septic permits at $100.00 per year.12 Noble County’s individual or single-family residence rule requires 2 acres of suitable soil and/or usable terrain for a septic-served lot; the health officer issues installation permits after soil evaluation and classification confirmation.13 That sanitation requirement is distinct from a zoning district’s lot-size rule.13 Countywide, only 8% of soils are rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that rating calls for parcel-level evaluation and does not mean septic is impossible.14

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Albion Township?

We could not confirm general RV residential occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or accessory-dwelling rules for unincorporated Albion Township; ask the Noble County Plan Commission about the proposed use before buying a trailer or small dwelling.7 The county floodplain rule addresses travel trailers or RVs installed in a Special Flood Hazard Area for more than 180 days, requiring flood protection; that rule does not establish general RV occupancy permission elsewhere.15 On unincorporated township land, modulars and doublewides are treated like stick-built homes for building permits, while singlewides need a variance outside a mobile-home park.4 A dwelling without sanitary sewer service still needs a compliant residential on-site sewage system under Indiana law.16

What are the steps to build a home in Albion Township?

For unincorporated Albion Township, arrange the approvals that support the county building application before construction begins.8

  1. Bring the recorded deed and proposed site layout to the Noble County Plan Commission for zoning review and applicable improvement-location approval.8
  2. Obtain the drainage check from the Noble County Surveyor’s Office and arrange a septic permit or clearance, or a sewer-district letter confirming a tap.8
  3. Obtain a driveway permit if there is no existing driveway; the responsible agency depends on whether access is from a county road or state highway.5
  4. Submit approved construction plans, the site plan and any applicable survey to the Noble County Building Department; floodplain properties may need elevation certificates before the permit and an as-built certificate before final approval.8
  5. Request each required construction inspection from the Building Department as the work reaches that stage.11

What should you check before buying land in Albion Township?

For unincorporated Albion Township land, confirm the parcel can receive zoning approval and that any division or combination has Plan Commission approval before treating the lot as buildable.6 Ask the Noble County Building Department about floodplain improvements, because the county flood ordinance adds requirements for construction and other improvements.17 We could not confirm the local residential well-permit requirement; ask the Noble County Health Department, and use an Indiana DNR-licensed well driller.18 We also could not confirm an owner-builder exemption or certificate-of-occupancy requirement; ask the Building Department before setting a construction or move-in schedule.10 For land elsewhere in the county, consult the Noble County guide and verify whether the parcel falls within an incorporated town’s separate jurisdiction.10

Watch-outs

  • Albion Township and the incorporated Town of Albion are different zoning jurisdictions; confirm the parcel’s jurisdiction with the Noble County Plan Commission.2
  • We could not confirm district-specific minimum dwelling size, lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or height limits for unincorporated Albion Township; ask the Noble County Plan Commission for the parcel’s district standards.7
  • Indiana’s agricultural exemption concerns state construction-design-release classification and does not establish an exemption from all local building, zoning or inspection requirements.19

Sources

  1. Noble County Required Permits & Inspections (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Plan Commission of Noble County (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Noble County Septic and Wastewater (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Noble County Required Permits & Inspections (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Items Needed to Obtain a Building Permit (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Applying for a Subdivision (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Noble County Plan Commission (noblecountyplanning.com)
  8. Items Needed to Obtain a Building Permit (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Noble County Building Department (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Noble County Building Department (in.gov)
  11. Noble County Required Permits & Inspections (Albion Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Noble County Health Department - Septic and Wastewater (in.gov)
  13. Noble County Code of Ordinances, Sec. 29-59. Individual or single family residences, quoted and re-checked
  14. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  15. Noble County Code of Ordinances, Sec. 16-86. Specific standards, quoted and re-checked
  16. 410 IAC 6-8.3 Residential On-Site Sewage Systems (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Noble County Building Department - Floodplain (in.gov)
  18. Recommended Standards For Private Water Wells (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Plan Review FAQs (Indiana statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Albion Township

Rules another office applies inside Albion Township

Albion Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction and additions on unincorporated land inside Albion township.

    • The county states that permits are required before commencing work.
    • Portable buildings of 120 square feet or less may be exempt, subject to floodplain requirements.
    “All New Construction and Additions, require a building permit. Remodeling includes but is not limited to: Roof (replacing trusses or rafters), Structural walls, Foundation repairs, Electrical Improvements, Plumbing Improvements, Gas Service, Heating and Cooling Improvements. Contact the Noble County Building Department prior to commencing any work. Violations are subject to Fines.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Unincorporated land inside Albion township administered by the Noble County Building Department.

    • The county page states the county adopted Indiana Division of Fire and Building Safety codes.
    “Noble County had adopted the Indiana Division of Fire and Building Safety codes.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Projects requiring county building permits on unincorporated land inside Albion township.

    • Inspection points vary by project and construction segment.
    • The contractor or owner must request an inspection when a required segment is complete.
    “There are several points during construction where an inspection may be required. Your contractor (or you as the owner) must be aware of these points in the construction process. When you have completed a segment of your project requiring that an inspection be performed, contact the Building Department at (260) 636-2215 and request that an inspection be scheduled.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Unincorporated land inside Albion township; Noble County administers the county UDO, while the incorporated Town of Albion is outside the county Plan Commission's jurisdiction.

    • The source distinguishes incorporated Albion from unincorporated county land.
    “enforces the zoning ordinance in unincorporated parts of Noble County”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes on unincorporated land inside Albion township.

    • All new manufactured-home construction and additions require a building permit.
    • Modulars and doublewides are treated like stick-built homes for permits.
    • Singlewides require a variance outside a mobile-home park.
    • Inspections may be required at several construction points.
    “Singlewides require a variance to be placed in the county outside of a mobile home park.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Residential septic systems inside Albion township, including unincorporated land.

    • The Noble County Health Department handles septic applications and investigations.
    “A permit and installation by a licensed installer are required for any new installation or repair of a septic system in Noble County. Investigations are also conducted on any discharge of sewage or other public health/nuisance complaint.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Dwellings in Albion township that will not be connected to a sanitary sewerage system.

    • A written construction permit signed by the health officer is required before starting residential onsite sewage-system construction.
    • The rule applies to residences, manufactured/modular/mobile homes, plumbed outbuildings, replacements, reconstructions, bedroom/DDF expansions, repairs, and installations for existing residences without such systems.
    “For any dwelling or place of residence that will not be connected to a sanitary sewerage system”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division or combination of land on unincorporated land inside Albion township.

    • Plan Commission approval is required.
    • Unapproved nonconforming parcels do not receive an improvement-location permit or building permit.
    “The Plan Commission has exclusive control over the approval of plats and replats involving unincorporated land within its jurisdiction.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Building permits for unincorporated land inside Albion township where no existing driveway exists.

    • The county requires a driveway permit for all building permits without an existing driveway.
    • A different agency may administer the permit depending on whether access is from a county road or state highway.
    “Driveway Permits are required for ALL Building Permits that do not have an existing driveway.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit applications for unincorporated land inside Albion township.

    • Required materials include deed, Plan Commission approval, drainage check, septic permit or sewer-tap letter, driveway permit where no existing driveway, approved plans, site plan, and applicable survey.
    • Floodplain properties may require elevation certificates before permit and an as-built certificate before final.
    “ITEMS NEEDED TO OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMIT”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Albion Township or Noble County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders seeking construction permits on unincorporated land inside Albion township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Land inside Albion township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts applicable to unincorporated land inside Albion township.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential districts applicable to unincorporated land inside Albion township.
  • Setbacks — Residential districts applicable to unincorporated land inside Albion township.
11 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Albion Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Noble County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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